An intriguing youngster has re-upped his contract with the Dallas Stars. The team has signed forward Fredrik Karlstrom to a one-year, two-way contract extension for the 2022-23 season. Financial terms are unavailable at this time.
A native of Stockholm, the 24-year-old forward was Dallas’ third-round (90th overall) selection in the 2016 draft. After signing his entry-level contract in 2020, the team loaned him back to the SHL’s Växjö Lakers, where he netted five goals and 10 points in 14 games en route to the league championship. He came over to North America for the first time this season, playing in three games with the Stars and getting his first NHL assist on April 21, 2022, in a game against the Calgary Flames. The two-way center prospect also had 16 goals, 13 assists, and 29 points in 65 games with AHL Texas.
Karlstrom will likely return to Texas again for the most part next season but has shown that he’s an option for an NHL call-up. A stronger AHL season in 2022-23 could force the organization to pencil him in as a candidate for a bottom-six role full-time in the NHL moving forward.